Not sure why people are so upset at his mom. Clearly something turned her off from MSU. And I am talking about much more than not liking the football team. This is a decision much larger than the football field.

To you people on this board that think it should always be up to the kid...

If your kid wanted to bully kids would you let him?

If your kid wanted to try drugs would you "sign off and let go"?

If your kid wanted to drive drunk would you let him "make the choice"?

Actually, I think this is part of her problem—she thinks her son's decision isn't well thought out. If he made a case based on solid reasons to pick MSU, then she'd probably be fine with it. She thinks he wants to go to MSU for superficial reasons, which an answer like "no major reason" bears out.

It's not to late Malik ! Come to Michigan ! In all honestly though how do you pick MSU with his offers ? Even if its not Michigan I'd be disappointed but I'd understand Bama, fsu, fla,osu, but why go to a second tier school and football program ?

just because mom doesn't want him to, you know mom says no so you do it childish thing, not saying he's childish but maybe he feels he should decide and since its his decision and mom says no he's going against her. I bet its over a girl in the end who they had flirt with him, dlinemen and olinemen are easier to fall for that.

That's the Greek chorus --- other Greek drama elements are present: the oedipal mother-son conflict, whether family loyalty trumps other allegiances (to MSU), and so on and on.

Did I not read somewhere that both mom and dad --- especially dad --- wanted MM out of the State of Michigan because dad was afraid MM's (apparently somewhat disreputable) Southfield pals would motor up to EL and hang with him, thus exerting a "bad influence"?

I suspect MM will end up at MSU, but MM and his family feud is one more drama that Michigan does not need at this particular time. Anyway, I did like Lawrence Marshall's comment: "I can't wait to meet him [MM] on the field." Go Blue.

Sam Webb said on WTKA this morning that he thinks McDowell will still end up at MSU but that he may simply go there with ever having signed an NLI. His mom is at serious odds with the MSU coaches, and that dispute may be unresolvable.

As Sam said, hopefully McDowell and his mom can get past this difficult point in their relationship.

Good luck to the kid, I hope he's able to focus on whats important and make the most of his opporunity to play football and receive a free education.

That said, and I've said this since October...I think Michigan is better off without him. Not sour grapes, I don't think that about Webb or Hand...even Wiegars or Johnny Williams to some extent.

Michigan just doesn't need anyone with maturity issues or questions marks right now. We don't need anyone who has focus and interests that aren't aligned with that of the team.

It sounds righteous, but I'm just talking about the current state of Michigan. I wanted Demar Dorsey, I won't like...but I felt those teams had much better leadership and direction. Right now we the number of young guys on our team, we need a solid foundation. These next 2 years may be the most important for Michigan Football for a loooong time. If Michigan is going to build a foundation like Bama or Stanford, it literally HAS to happen over the next two years.

One guy isn't going to mess that up, but you add enough question marks, and you can quickly mess up that foundation when those question marks are juniors and seniors and considered "leaders." See the Florida Gators.